Switch or signal apparatus.



N0. 806,948. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

F. L. YOUNG. I

I SWITCH 0R SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. 1905.

WM" I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed July 10, 1905. Serial No. 258,979-

TO all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. YOUNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Switch or Signal Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a novel construction by means of which the movable parts of a railroad switch or signal apparatus may be kept free from snow and ice during the winter.

As is well known, one of thegreatest difiiculties which railroads in temperate climates have to deal with in winter is the tendency of the switches and signals to freeze and become clogged by ice or snow, thus deranging entirely the railroad traflic. It is of course the movable parts of the switch and signal apparatus that become clogged-such, for instance, as the switch-rails, the detectorbars, 620. According to my present invention I provide for overcoming this difficulty either by making the movable parts of the switch or signal apparatus with a chamber through which a heating medium maybe circulated or by securing to each ,movable part a conduit through which said heating medium.may be circulated. In the case of a pivoted switch-rail, for instance, my inven tion would contemplate providing said pivoted rail with a chamber through which the heating medium may be circulated and connecting said chamber to the circulating system either at its pivotal joint or in some other suitable way, and in the case of a detector-bar my invention would contemplate making said detector-bar hollow and connecting the chamber therein to the circulating system through suitable joints which permit the detector-bar to have its usual movement.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows part of a switch embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a modification. Fig. 3 is a view of a detectorbar embodying my invention. Fig. 4 is a modification. Fig. 5, in detached view, represents in general outline a pump that may be employed for forcing the heating medium through the circulating system.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, 3 designates a main fixed rail, and 4 a pivoted switch-rail. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1 the pivoted switch-rail 4 is provided with a chamber 5, through which some suitable heating medium may be forced, thereby keeping said rail at all times sufliciently warm to prevent it from being clogged by snow or ice. The heating medium may be introduced to the chamber 5 or taken therefrom in any suitable or usual way without departing from my invention.

I have illustrated the switch-rail as pivoted to turn about a pivotal member 6, which has therethrough an inlet and outlet duct, both leading to the chamber 5 and connected to the pipes 7 of any suitable circulating system. The heating medium may be forced through this circulating system either by means of a forcing apparatus-such, for instance, as a pump 8or by gravity.

The chamber 5 may be formed in the pivoted switch-rail in any suitable way and may be placed either in the base thereof, as shown in the drawings, or in the web of the rail. More than one chamber 5 in the switch-rail may be employed, if desired, without departing from the invention.

I prefer to divide the chamber into two connected compartments by a partition 20, so that the heating medium will be compelled to circulate throughout the entire extent of the chamber 5. Said chamber 5 may be either formed in the railat the time the latter is rolled or cast or it may be made by securing to the switch-rail a conduit or chamber 5, as shown in Fig. 2.

In both forms of my invention it will be observed that the chamber through which the heating medium is circulated is carried by and moves with the pivoted switch-rail.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustrated my invention as applied to another moving part of a switch and signal apparatus-towit, a detector-bar. Said detector-bar is desi nated by 10 and is illustrated as being ho low to present a chamber 51, through which the heating medium may circulate. The heatin medium may be admitted to and taken cm the chamber 51 by any suitable connections, and preferably said chamber is connected through said suitable connections with a circulating system 7, through which the heatin medium circulates, said system preferably b moving devicessuch as switches, detectorbars &c.so that theheating medium circulates through said devices in series. It will be understood, however, that my inveneing connected to a plurality of V IIO tion is not limited to any particular Way of delivering the heating medium to or taking it from the chamber connected to or forming part of the movable parts of the switch apparatus.

In Fi .3 Imake use of the swinging arms 12, on whic the detector-bar is mounted, to connect the chamber 51 to the circulating system. It will be seen that each arm is tubular or hollow and opens at one end into the chamber 51 and at the other end connects to a chambered member 21, which in turn is connected to the pipes 7 of the circulatin sys tem. The arms 12 are swiveled to bot the detector-bar and the member 21. In practice I propose to provide said member 21 with one or more partitions 22, so as to cause the heating medium to circulate through the detector-bar in passing from one end to the other of said member 21. Any other suitable way of deliverin the heating medium to the chamber 51 maybe employed, however, without departing from my invention.

In Fig. 4 another embodiment of my invention is shown, wherein the chamber 52 is separate from the detector-bar 100, but secured thereto so as to move therewith.

Any suitable heating medium which is adapted to circulate may be used; but I prefer to use a non-freezing liquidsuch, for

instance, as an oil. Obviously it will be necessary to heat the moving parts of the switch and signal apparatus only during storms, when there is a danger of such parts becoming clogged. In clear cold weather, when there is no danger of the switch or signal apparatus becoming clogged with snow or ice, there is no necessity of circulating the heating medium or even of heating it. Under such circumstances a non-freezing fluid has the advantage that it will not congeal when at rest. Another advantage of using an oil is that it can be used for lubricating the joints as well as for heating the switch and signal apparatus, such lubncation being atforded in any suitable way.

Although I have illustrated herein some of the modifications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to theconstruction shown, as many changes in the manner of securing the chamber to the movable part or forming the chamber in said movable part may be made without departing from the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'

1. In a switch or signal apparatus, a chambered movable part, and means for causing a circulation of heating medium through the chamber.

2. In a switch or signal apparatus, a chambered movable part, and a circulating system fora heating medium with which said chamber communicates.

3. In a switch or signal apparatus, a movable part havin a heating-chamber associated and movable therewith, and a circulating system for a heating medium with which said heating-chamber communicates. 4. In a switch or signal apparatus, a movable part having a heating-chamber associated therewith, said chamber having an inlet and outlet port, and a circulating system for a heating medium with which said ports communicate, whereby a medium may be caused to circulate through said chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK L. YOUNG.

Witnesses:

LoUIs C. SMITH, ELIZABETH R. MORRISON. 

